africanlegalstudies.blog – Cutting edge analysis on key issues in African politics, law and development

Environmental Impact Assessment in Rwanda: Legal Framework and Challenges
Introduction Environmental impact assessments are essential processes used to evaluate the potential effects of a proposed project on the environment before implementation. In Africa, their integration into national legislation varies significantly, but most countries recognize their importance for sustainable development. Rwanda’s environmental law, Article 6, states that “The principle of information dissemination and incentives for…
Gender Equality and Climate Justice – A Critical Examination of Legislative and Institutional Reforms in the Global South
Introduction Climate Change is the defining crisis of our time, threatening people’s lives by rising sea levels and extreme weather conditions. Its impacts primarily affect marginalized groups, but women are more vulnerable than men to climate induced risks. Since climate change affects gender equality and gender justice, it is necessary to mitigate its severe impacts…
Opinion: No EAC integration without sustainable solutions for Eastern DRC
Introduction The ongoing crisis in Eastern Congo, marked by the resurgence of the M23 rebel group, backed by Rwanda (according to UN Peacekeeping Forces) and the involvement of multiple military actors, including Forces Armees de la Republique Democratique du Congo (FARDC) and various local militias, has exposed the East African Community’s (EAC) inability to effectively…

Environmental Impact Assessment in Rwanda: Legal Framework and Challenges
Introduction Environmental impact assessments are essential processes used to evaluate the potential effects of a proposed project on the environment before implementation. In Africa, their integration into national legislation varies significantly, but most countries recognize their importance for sustainable development. Rwanda’s environmental law, Article 6, states that “The principle of information dissemination and incentives for…
International law instruments for greenhouse gas mitigation and sustainable development in Nigeria
Introduction Climate change in Nigeria could, for example, be attributed to the production of fossil fuels in which greenhouse gases (GHGs) are emitted. [1] A decrease in the production of fossil fuels is likely to affect the development of Nigeria. Hence, as a member of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Nigeria will have…
COP29: A Pivotal Moment for Africa or Business as Usual?
Introduction From November 11 to 22, 2024, the world’s eyes turned to Baku, Azerbaijan, as it hosted the twenty-ninth Conference of the Parties (COP29) under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. With global temperatures on track to rise by 2.6°C–3.1°C by 2100 under current policies, the conference emphasized finance, particularly the establishment of a…

Investment and Investor Protection in Somalia
Introduction With Somalia’s accession to the East African Community (EAC), the internal market of this community is also becoming increasingly attractive for foreign investments. A common market with over 300 million populations is developing, and there is not only a common internal market. It also has an excellent strategic location from the Indian Ocean to…
The East African Community: Past Experiences and Lessons for the Future
Introduction The East Africa Community (EAC) is one of the oldest regional economic blocs in the world.[1] Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, as members of EAC, had a customs union as early as 1927.[2] While this regional bloc collapsed in 1977, it was re-established in 2000 and grew from three to eight countries, including Uganda, Kenya,…
The Legal Analysis of Community Rights in Environment Decision-Making in the Federal Republic of Somalia
Introduction People often feel hopeless and powerless to protect the environment, themselves, their families and their individual rights. However, through the creative use of the law, a number of notable successes for the environment and people have been recorded in many countries.[1] Environmental decision-making in Somalia stands at the intersection of legal, social, and environmental considerations, with…